Machine for setting up cartons

ABSTRACT

959,409. Setting up cartons. CAL-CROWN CORPORATION. Aug. 4, 1961 [Aug. 23, 1960], No. 28453/61. Heading B8C. A machine for setting up knocked down cartons of the type shown in Fig. 4, and for closing the side and end flaps thereof, comprises a frame structure on which first carton engaging means are movable in a path extending from a carton engaging point to a carton discharging point, and operative to propel a knocked down carton to a discharge point, second carton engaging means being movable along said path in synchonism with said first engaging means and co-operating therewith while traversing said path to transform the engaged carton from the knocked down condition into the erected, set-up condition, and end panel manipulating means operative after the carton has been set up to fold the end panel across the end of the carton as the carton approaches the discharge point. Knocked down cartons are fed singly from a magazine 9 at the back of the machine by a conveyer mechanism comprising a pair of endless chains 51, 53 driven in contact with correspondingly spaced supporting plates 42, 43, each one of the latter carrying inner and outer cam plates 55, 56 extending lengthwise of the supporting plates and closely adjacent them. The rear posts 66 of the magazine are attached to the side plate assemblies 42, 43 and carry studs 70 which support the stack of cartons; the front of the magazine consists of laterally adjustable posts 79 on an adjustable transverse member 80, and the latter supports brushes 93 which hold the cartons on the chains during their passage from the magazine. Each carton is removed from the latter by a pair of pick-up lugs 100, one on each chain, and pivotally supported at 101. A hook portion 99 of each lug engages the lowermost carton and feeds it forwardly. Pairs of stop members 105 are also pivotally mounted on the chains and correspond in number to the pairs of pick-up lugs. The members 105 pivot at 104 on the chains and, on reaching cam.portions 108 on the inner cam plates 55 are pivoted upwardly and ride along those plates as shown in Fig. 11. Similarly when the pick-up lugs reach those cam portions they are turned about their pivots whereby a carton is forced into an opened condition between the members 100, 105. At this position adjustable side flap plows 112 of suitably shaped rod form secured to the sides of the plate assemblies 42, 43 bend the leading side flaps inwardly and hold them in position until the end panel F is moved to overlie them. Pairs of tucker members 115, Fig. 11, for the trailing side flaps,- are pivoted to the same pivot pins as the lugs 100 but on the outside of the chains, and engage the cam faces 119 of cam plates 56 whereby they are pivoted anti-clockwise to endfold and hold the trailing side flaps in position until held by the end panels. For the purpose of closing the end panels are provided stationary tuck plows 125 and tuck breakers 129 of suitably shaped rod form, and adjustably attached to the side plate assemblies 42, 43. The tuck breakers have parts 137 extending along and just inwardly of the score lines S, Fig. 4, of the cartons, whereas the tuck plows have corresponding parts just outside those scorelines so that as the cartons are carried along the tuck portion F is bent in the manner shown in Fig. 15. On reaching a zone III, Fig. 11, the cam plates 56 are shaped with a vertical edge 140 and space 140&lt;SP&gt;1&lt;/SP&gt;, and the side flap tuckers 115 fall into that space. Guide plates 144 adjustably carried by horizontal rods 147 strike those tuckers and ensures their disengagement from the carton; those plates also have tongues 145 which ensure the proper seating of the cartons on the chains. The end panels F are then folded into closed positions about the score lines 5&lt;SP&gt;1&lt;/SP&gt; by end closing plates 152 pivotally mounted on the chains. The plates pivot about axes parallel to the chains and normally hang downwardly, but are pivoted upwardly to engage and urge the end panels inwardly. This pivoting is provided by cam surfaces 121 on the cam plates 56 which bring the closing plates to positions slightly below horizontal, and at this point the plates 152 engage suitably shaped plows 156 of rod form adjustably supported on the plate assemblies 42, 43, which brings them into a vertical position. The under faces 163 of the guides 144 are curved to provide a tuck guide, Fig. 18. On reaching the zone VI, Fig. 6, the stops 105 and then the lugs 100 pivot into a clearance 164 provided by the cam surface and the carton is carried along by the plates 152 until it is discharged from the machine. In order to accommodate different lengths of carton the transverse parallel spacing of the chains and their supporting plates is adjustable, and for this purpose the chain supporting plates 42, 43 are attached to collars 44, 45, Fig. 7, which threadably engage right and left hand threads on transverse tubular members 30, 31; the latter are rotated simultaneously manually by a chain and sprocket drive. During the return runs of the chains the side flap tuckers 115 are reorientated by plates 169 causing them to be swung outwardly so that they return to a depending position. The plates 152, during their return run, encounter rods 170 causing their inversion, and they are held in this position by retainer plates 171 and bristles 172 of a brush 173. In a modification, for closing one end of a carton only, instead of flap unfolding means on one of the plate and chain assemblies, that chain carries stops which are slidable vertically thereon and are engaged by a cam surface at the appropriate position so as to be moved over the open end of a carton to hold it in position whilst the end flaps at the opposite end are folded.

H. R. LOBDELL ETAL MACHINE FOR SETTING UP CARTONS Oct. 22, "1963 H M m gZ m Z M Z {w W Filed Aug. 25. 1960 Zyflgg waded-241E 9 Oct. 22, 1963 H.R. LOBDELL ETAL MACHINE FOR SETTING UP CARTONS Filed Aug. 23. 1960 6Sheets-Sheet 2 AQN bmq w Oct. 22, 1963 H. R. LOBDELL ETAL 3,107,583

MACHINE FOR SETTING UP CARTONS Filed Aug. 23. 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 llllVIII VII/I llllllll I.

Oct. 22, 1963 H. R. LOBDELL ETAL 3,

MACHINE FOR SETTING UP CARTONS 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 23. 1960 Oct.22, 1963 H. R. LOBDELL ETAL 3,107,588

MACHINE FOR SETTING UP CARTONS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 25. 1960 Oct.22, 1963 H. R. LOBDELL ETAL 3,107,588

MACHINE FOR SETTING u CARTONS 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Aug. 23. 1960fgymarzdifezz'c United States Patent 3,107,588 MACHINE FOR SETTING UPCARTONS Harry R. Lobdell, Gardenia, and Raymond G. Zenick, Gieudaie,Calif., assignors to Cal-Crown Corporation, Gardena, Calif, acorporation of California Filed Aug. 23, 1960, Ser. No. 51,312 23Claims. (CI. 9353) This invention relates to the art of packagingarticles and commodities and more particularly to an improved machinefor opening and setting up rectangular cartons from the collapsed orknocked down form in which they are supplied to the user and especiallythose cartons having at least one end closure formed by a pair of sideflaps formed as extensions of opposite sides of the cartons (generallyreferred to as Panels) and an end panel formed as an extension of apanel of the carton disposed between the side flaps and having an end ortuck portion which is inserted or tucked in adjacent and parallel to theside of the carton opposite that from which the end panel extends. Ifthe carton is to be filled from an end, only one end is closed on themachine incident to the setting up of the carton before the fillingoperation is accomplished. If however, the filling of the carton isachieved through an opening or openings other than an end, both ends maybe closed as an incident to setting up the carton.

An object of the present invention is to provide a machine forautomatically setting up and closing at least one end of knocked downcartons incident to removing them at a time from a supply carried in ahopper or a magazine on the machine and in which machine, the means foreffecting the setting up of the carton and closing at least one endthereof by unfolding the members forming the end closure is achieved bydevices moving with the carton whereby relative movement between thecarton and the setting up devices is eliminated with consequentreduction of the possibility of scratched, marked, torn or otherwisemutilated cartons.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine for setting upcartons which is characterized by simple, sturdy construction, which maybe employed for setting up cartons and closing either one or both endsthereof and which is readily adjustable for different sizes of cartons.

With the foregoing objects in view, together with such additionalobjects and advantages which may subsequently appear, the inventionresides in the parts and in the construction, combination andarrangement of parts described, by way of example, in the followingspecification of certainly presently preferred embodiments of theinvention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings which form apart of said specification and in which drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a machine for setting up cartons inwhich the present invention is embodied, a portion of the base beingbroken away to show the power means,

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of the machine as viewed fromthe right hand end of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is an enlarged scale, top plan view of the machine showing acarton entering the end closing devices and another carton being drawnfrom the hopper or magazine preparatory to being presented to the endclosing devices,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a set up carton in which both ends havebeen closed on the machine, the carton having openings in a side thereofin which the merchandise is afterwards inserted,

FIG. 5 is a greatly enlarged, partial, side elevational view of thecarton manipulating means as viewed on the line 55 of FIG. 3; the viewextending from the hopper 3,107,588 Patented Oct. 22, 1963 2 or magazineon FIG. 3,

FIG. 6 is a continuation of the side elevational view of the machineshown in FIG. 5 and extending from the said line XX to the discharge endof the machine,

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, transverse sectional view taken on the line 7-7of FIG. 3,

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, top plan, sectional view of the right handsupporting plate and the parts fixed to or carried thereby, the viewbeing taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 5,

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of details of the supply hopperor magazine, the view being take-n on the line 9-9 of FIG. 3,

FIG. 10 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 1010 of FIG. 5,

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary, enlarged scale, sectional view taken on theline 1111 of FIG. 3,

FIG. 12 is an enlarged scale, fragmentary, sectional view taken on theline 12-12 of FIG. 3 showing the initial engagement by the cartonmanipulating means of the machine with a carton,

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary, the line 13-43 of FIG. 5,

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken on the line 1414 of FIG.3 relating particularly to details of the width adjustment of themachine,

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken on the line 15'15 of FIG.5 showing details of the carton flap manipulating means,

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary, top plan view showing the initial engagementof the closing flap of a carton with the flap manipulatinginstrumentalities of the machine,

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary, side elevational view showing the position ofthe flap manipulating components at the completion of the in-folding ofthe side flap at the trailing edge of the carton,

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken on the line 18-48 of FIG.6 showing the in-foldin-g of the end panel and tuck of a carton,

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a so-called reverse tuck carton, thetype employed where only one end is to be closed incident to the settingup of the carton, the carton being shown as set up but before the endthereof has been closed,

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary, transverse, sectional view taken on the line20-20- of FIG. 3 and showing the machine arranged for closing one endonly of a carton such as shown in FIG. 19, and

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of a carton abutmentmeans employed at the side of the machine opposite the flap manipulatingmeans when the machine is arranged to set up one end only of reversetuck cartons.

Referring to the drawings, the illustrated embodiment of the inventionincludes a hollow, generally rectangular base 1 preferably formed fromsheet metal and preferably, also, mounted on casters 2 and housing alaterally extending bracket 3 which is freely hingedly mounted at oneedge thereof and on which a driving motor 4 is mounted. The motorincludes a speed reduction component 5 having a driving pulley 6connected by' a belt 7 to the drive pulley 8 of the machine which islocated substantially directly above the drive pulley 6, whereby theweight of the motor unit on the hinged bracket serves to maintain belttension.

For convenience in description of the machine, the end thereof at whichthe hopper or magazine 9 forcartons is located will be referred to asthe back, the opposite end as the front, and the sides of the machinewill be designated as right and left as viewed from the front of themachine. The top of the base is formed by the upper sectional view takenon end of the machine to about the line XX edges of the rear and frontends and 11 and by the upper edges of the sides 12 and 13, said sides atthe plane of the upper edges of the ends extending laterally toward eachother for a short distance in horizontal runs 14 and 15 and thenceextending downwardly in spaced, parallel relation in runs 16 and 17which at their distal ends terminate in horizontal, re-bent portions 18and 19 forming grooves in which the lower edges of the horizontal sidemembers 20 and 21 of the machine frame are received; said side membersextending in spaced, parallel horizontal relation with the upper edgesthereof disposed above the plane of the runs 14 and 15. Screws 22 serveto secure the side member 20 to the run 16 and screws 23 similarilysecure the side member 21 to the run 17.

A cylindrical bar 24 extends between the frame side members 20 and 21slightly rearwardly of the front ends thereof at about the mid-heightthereof and is secured to the side members by screws 25 and 26 extendingthrough the respective side members and threadedly engaging the ends ofsaid bar. A similar cylindrical bar 27 extends between the side membersslightly forwardly of the rear ends thereof and in substantially thesame horizontal plane as the bar 24 and is similarly secured to the sidemembers by screws 28 and 29. The bars 24 and 27 are of the same lengthand thus serve to maintain the parallel relationship between the sidemembers 20 and 21. Additionally, the bar 24 serves as a bearing for atubular adjusting screw threaded member 30 journaled thereon, saidtubular member being sufiiciently long to freely rotate on the bar 24without excessive end play. The bar 27 serves as a bearing support for asecond tubular adjusting screw member 31 which is identical to themember 31). At the ends thereof, adjacent the frame side member 21 theadjusting member 30 carries a sprocket 32 having a hub secured to thetubular member 30 by a set screw 33 and the corresponding end of thetubular member 31 carries an identical sprocket 34 which is providedwith a hub secured to the tubular member 31 by a set screw 35. Asprocket chain 36 is trained over the sprockets 32 and 34 and the upperrun thereof is trained under a sprocket 37 carried by a shaft38journaled in and extending through the said frame member 21 and saidshaft, exteriorly of the member 21, is provided with a hand crank 39.From the right hand ends thereof to about their mid-length themembers-30 and 31 are provided with identical left hand threads as at 40and from the left hand ends thereof toward their mid-lengths they areprovided with similar right hand threads as at 41. The drive of thetubular members through the connecting chain and driving sprocket issuch that they are both rotated simultaneously and in the same directionby the hand crank 39 and the said oppositely threaded ends thereofengage supporting means for the carton manipulating devices to bedescribed and the said threaded ends effect adjustment of such meanslaterally to accommodate different lengths of cartons.

To understand the construction and operation of the machine, the natureof the cartons upon which the machine operates will first be described.FIG. 4 shows a carton C in which both ends have been closed by themachine while the carton is empty, the carton having openings 0 in oneside thereof through which the contents are inserted. Each end of thecarton is provided with side flaps E formed as extension of edges of thecartons and the end panel F formed as an extension of one side of thecarton and including a tuck portion T bendable about a score line S andadapted to be inserted in the side of the carton opposite the side fromwhich the end panel extends and in closing the side flaps E, E. FIG. 19shows a carton having the same type of flaps but illustrates the form ofsuch cartons known as reverse tuck cartons, due to the fact that Whereasin cartons such as shown in FIG. 4 the end panels F are formed asextensions of the same side, in reverse tuck cartons these end panelsare formed as extensions of opposite sides of the carton. bodiment ofthe invention,

than the end panels and the carton manipulating devices are shapedaccordingly, it will be appreciated that the sizes of these componentsvary with cartons in which the sides and edges are of differentdimensions than the one illustrated.

The carton end manipulating devices are carried by right and left handsupporting plates 42 and 43 which are disposed in horizontal laterallyspaced, parallel relation inside of and parallel to the side members 20and 21. The plate 42 is provided with a pair of internally threadedcollars 44 fixed thereto and engaging the threads 40 of the adjustingmembers 30 and 31, while the plate 43 is similarly provided withcorresponding collars 45, 45 fixed thereto and engaging the oppositelythreaded portions 41 of the tubular members 30 and 31 whereby, uponrotation of the tubular members 30 and 31, the plates 42 and 43 andcomponents mounted thereon will be moved either toward or away from eachother while maintaining their parallel relationship.

The drive pulley 8 is mounted on the horizontal drive shaft 46 which isjournaled in bearings 47 and 48 carried, respectively, by the framemembers 20 and 21 with the pulley 8 being disposed adjacent to thebearing 47. The forward ends of the plates 42 and 43 are cut away toform clearances for identical sprocket wheels 49 and 50 mounted on theshaft 46 and disposed in the planes of the respective plates 42 and 43.The sprocket wheel 49 engages a pin and roller type link chain 51 havingan upper run extending parallel to and riding on the upper edge of theplate 42 from the rear end thereof to the sprocket, the links of thechain extending below the opposite sides of the top edge of the plate toprevent sidewise movement of the chain and the rollers mounted on thehinge pins of the chain riding on the upper edge of the plate 42. Thelower run of the chain 51 extends rearwardly in similar close adjacencyto the lower edge of the plate 42 and the rear end of the plate 42 isrounded at 52 about a radius generated about a center disposed in thelongitudinal center line of the plate to provide a surface for the rearend of the chain to ride over between said upper and lower runs, saidrounded end thus taking the place of another sprocket with resultantsimplification of the machine. The plate 43 similarly supports a chain53 having corresponding upper and lower runs and said chain beingsimilarly trained about the correspondingly curved rear end ofthe plate43 at 54. The direction of travel of the top runs of the chains 51 andS3 is from right to left as viewed in FIGS. 3, 5, and 6 and thehorizontal top runs thereof (see FIGS. 3 and 5) extend under themagazine 9.

Since the means for closing the left hand carton end is the same as thatfor closing the right hand end and since the parts therefor are eitheridentical or are mirror images of the right hand parts, in the ensuingdetailed description of the form of the machine for closing both ends ofa carton, identical and mirror image parts will be given the samenumbers irrespective of whether-the portion of the machine shown in thedrawings is of the right or left hand side.

The plate 42 carries an inner cam plate 55 disposed in spaced, parallelrelation and an outer cam plate 56 similarly disposed in spaced,parallel relation; said cam plates being spaced from the side plate 42at the forward ends by spacer washers 57 and the assembly being securedtogether at said forward end by a bolt 58 extending therethrough andthrough the washers 57 and threadedly engaging the holder 59 of the sideflap plow 60 to which detailed reference will later be made. A bolt 61disposed forwardly of the adjusting member 31 extends through the sideplate 42 and the cam plates 55 and 56 and interposed spacing washers 62and 63 as well as through the forward ends of the inner and outersupport-. ing plates 64 and 65 for the magazine rear post 66 and alsothrough spacing washers 67 and 68 interposed between the cam plates andthe magazine post supporting plates; the end of said bolt being engagedby a nut 69 as best shown in FIG. 8. I

The bottom of the stack of cartons held in the hopper or magazine 9 ismaintained at the horizontal plane of the top surface of the upper runsof the chains 51 and 53 (see FIG. 5) by the horizontally forwardlyextending distal ends 70, 70 of a pair of studs which rearwardly of thestack of cartons extend downwardly and thence laterally outwardly to theright and left and each terminates in a threaded portion 71 whichextends through the lower rear ends of the magazine post supportingplates 64 and 65, the cam plates 55 and 56, the respective side plates42 and 43, and the spacing washers 72 between all of the plates, saidthreaded portions being provided with a nut 73 engaging the inner plate64 and another nut 74 engaging the outer plate 65. Thus the rear ends ofthe above described plate assembly is held in assembly by the means forforming the magazine bottom and this bottom forming means also is one ofthe means which mounts the magazine rear posts on the plate assembly.

Each magazine rear post 66 is secured between the upwardly extendingarms of the supporting plates 64 and 65 associated therewith by upperand lower rivets 75 and the post extends from a point above the upperrun of the chain associated therewith to the top of the magazine. Beingthus mounted, these rear posts are adjustable laterally as theassemblies on which they are mounted are adjusted toward and away fromeach other. Each rear post carries a vertically extending edge guide 76carried by upper and lower arms 77 which extend first rearwardly andthence horizontally laterally toward the outer face of the post toslidingly engage holes in the posts in which these arms are secured bythumb screws 78 in adjusted position to accommodate different lengths ofthe knocked down or collapsed cartons.

The front edge of the magazine comprises vertical posts 79, 79 mountedforwardly opposite the post 66, 66 on a horizontal bridging member 80;said bridging member (see FIG. 1) comprising a length of angle iron withthe vertical leg thereof depending from the rear edge of the horizontalleg and said vertical leg (see FIG. 9) having a transversely extendingslot 81 extending across it. The lower ends of each of the posts 79 atthe front face thereof is provided with a forwardly projecting ledgeportion 82 engageable with the top surface of the bridging member andalso is provided with a forwardly extending stud 83 which extendsthrough the slot 81 and a sleeve 84 and is engaged by a thumb nut 85securing the post in the desired lateral position on the bridgingmember. The frame members 20 and 21 are provided with one each of a pairof vertically extending brackets 86, the upper ends of which support theends of the bridging member 80. The vertical leg of the bridging member80 is disposed adjacent the rear face of the brackets 86 and is providedwith vertical slots 87 through which screws 88 extend for threadedengagement with the rear faces of the brackets. The horizontal leg ofthe bridging member overlies the upper end of the brackets and at eachend thereof carries a jack screw 89 threaded therein for verticaladjustment of the bridging member relative to the brackets; the saidjack screws being secured in an adjusting position by lock nuts 90.Laterally inwardly of the posts 79, 79 the bridging member is providedwith a pair of depending brackets 91, 91 secured to the underside of thehorizontal leg thereof by screws 92, said brackets each carrying a brush93 having depending bristles disposed a distance above the plane of theupper surface of the top runs of the chain which is slightly less thanthe thickness of a collapsed carton, wherefor the brush bristles holdthe cartons downwardly on the chain with a light yielding pressure. Thebrackets 86, 86 are each provided with a shoulder portion 94 which restson the top edge of the frame member on which the bracket is mounted andeach bracket is provided with an outwardly extending stud 95 whichextends through a horizontal slot 96 in the frame member and is engagedby a thumb nut 97 to secure the bracket in adjusted positionlongitudinally of the frame member whereby the bridging member and frontpost carried thereby is adjusted toward or away from the fixed positionof the rear post to accommodate different widths of collapsed cartons.The lateral adjustment of the post 79 is made to accommodate or matchthe lateral adjustment of the carton end manipulating instrumentalitiesand the jack screws 89 serve to adjust the bridging member vertically toachieve the proper pressure on the cartons by the brushes 93.Preferably, but not necessarily, the posts 79, 79 carry the oppositesides of retarding member 98 having a rearwardly and downwardly slightlysloping face terminating a predetermined distance above the top runs ofthe chains to momentarily reduce the width of the space between thefront and rear posts of the magazine effective, as shown in FIG. 1, tokeep a predetermined number of cartons less than a full magazine loadbearing on the magazine bottom forming members so that friction incidentto moving a carton from the underside of the magazine is reduced to apractical minimum value.

The means for moving the carton through the machine comprises certainelement mounted on and moving with the chains and caused to move ontheir respective mount ings by engagement with stationary cam surfacesengaged by such elements incident to their travel with the chain.Additionally, there are certain stationary elements which are engaged byportions of the carton closing flaps incident to the manipulationthereof by other portions of the machine. In the illustrated embodimentof the invention, there are 8 sets of carton manipulating elements oneach chain. In other words, each complete excursion of the chains willcause 8 cartons to be processed by the machine. However, it will laterbe apparent that the number of such sets can be varied dependent uponthe width of the carton and other factors. FIG. 12 shows the initialengagement of the carton handling instrumentalities with a carton, FIG.5 shows a carton being moved out of the magazine and a second cartonmoving through the end closing means, FIG. 11 shows two cartons inintermediate positions, one carton being at a position between the twocartons shown in FIG. 5 and another carton which has progressed fartherthan the carton at the left of FIG. 5; and FIG. 6 shows a carton whichhas all but completely progressed through the closing means. In thedescription of these carton manipulating devices of the machine, all ofthese differ,- ent positions will be treated as though they are that ofa single carton moving through the machine in positions progressivelydesignated as zones 1, II, III, IV, V and VI in FIGS. 12, 5, 11, 5, 5,and 6 respectively.

Assuming that a supply of collapsed or knocked down cartons is in themagazine and that the machine is running, the operation upon a cartonwill be described starting with FIG- 12 which shows at zone I the hook99 of the pickup lug 16f engaging the lowermost of the cartons in thestack. The said pickup lug is preferably formed of rigid plasticmaterial of substantial thickness, is roughly of right angle triangleconfiguration as viewed in side elevation, is pivotally mounted at 101on one of the hinge pins of the chains and is disposed in the verticalplane containing the inner cam member 55. At the time of initial engagement with a carton, the pickup lug is positioned with the end of thecarton engaging edge 102 from which the hook 99 projects trailing thepivotal attachment to the chain. A pin 103 protruding laterally from thehook portion of the pickup lug engages the top surface of the chain tohold the edge 102 parallel with the top surface of the chain. Acorresponding pickup lug is, of course, carried by the other chain inmirror image relationship to snovgsse the one above described. As thechains move forward, the pickup lugs move the engaged carton out frombeneath the pile or stack in the magazine and beneath the brushes 93 asshown at zone If at the right hand side of FIG. 5.

Also pivotally mounted on a erosspin of the chain forwardly of thecarton as at 104 and also above the cam member 55 is a stop member 105which is preferably similarly formed of rigid plastic material and whichduring the excursion thereof beneath the cartons in the hopper is belowthe top surface of the chains, the extent of such movement being limitedby engagement of a chain pin rearwardly of the one on which the stopmember is mounted with the then upper end of an arcuate slot 106 in thestop member. The stop member is also of generally right angle triangularconfiguration as viewed in side elevation and at about the time theforward end of the carton emerges from beneath the brushes 93, thedepending corner 167 of the stop member engages the upwardly andforwardly sloping cam face 103 of the cam member 55 and is graduallylifted up until the stop member rides on the horizontal cam surface 199of the cam member 55 which extends in parallel relation to the directionof travel of the chain and in so doing, the rear face of the stop memberpresents a vertical stop surface 110 at the leading edge of the cartonas shown at the left hand side of the portion of FIG. 11 which is alsodesignated as zone III.

Also, as shown in the side zone III, the continued forward movement ofthe chain and carton causes the heel 111 of the pickup lug 100 to engagethe cam face 108 and this engagement causes the pickup lug to swing in acounter-clockwise direction on its pivotal mounting on the chain untilit assumes a vertical position facing the stop member 105 as shown atzone 1V in FIG. 5. Incident to this swinging movement of the pickup lug,it will be noted that the hook 99 thereof remains hooked over the cornerof the carton. The pickup lug and stop member are so proportioned andthe mountings thereof on the chain are such that when they are thusraised by successive engagement with the cam face 103 they are spacedapart the width of the open carton and the length of the carton engagingedge 102 is the same as the height or thickness of the carton as it lieson the chains. The knocked down carton must, of course, be placed in themagazine so that this action of the pickup lug and stop member will movethe carton sides relative to each other to effect the setting up of thecarton. In other words, the portion of the carton constituting the sidethereof that will be the leading edge of the carton as it progressesthrough the machine must be on the top surface of the knocked downcarton. As best shown at the right hand side of FIG. 11, this swingingaction of the pickup lug causes the carton to ride up at the trailingend thereof and to remain in engagement with the hook 99 of the pickuplug and consequently, this pivotal action of the pickup lug applies aforce diagonally across the carton which facilitates the movement of thecarton into its set up or rectangular form which is shown at the lefthand side of FIG. 11.

It will be noted in FIG. 3 that the flap components of the cartoninitially extend laterally outwardly beyond the outer edges of thechains. Just about as the carton is thus fully set up into itsrectangular configuration, the

,side flap E at the forward or leading edge of the carton engages theside flap plow 112 constituting a substantially horizontal wire or rodextending generally parallel to the path of travel of the carton anddisposed slightly outwardly of the carton end and at about themidheighth of the carton, said plow being preferably formed integrallywith the shank 60 thereof to which reference has previously been made.The shank 60 is vertically and rotatably adjustably secured in a boreextending axially of the holder 59 by a set screw 112a and is disposedin a vertical plane outwardly beyond the end of the opened end panel Fof the carton and thence extends upwardly in said plane to a point abovethe horizontal plane containing the upper surface of the carton as itlies on the chains. The rod thence continues in a horizontal runrearwardly and diagonally inwardly to a vertical plane parallelto thecarton path of travel containing the horizontal, carton flap engagingportion 112b and thence downwardly in a run 113 to said flap engagingportion; said plow serving to bend the leading side flap in toward thecarton end and to hold it in that position during the further travel ofthe carton until, beyond the distal end 114 of the plow, the end panel Fis moved to overlie the side flap and thus secure it as will later bedescribed in detail. Additionally, upon reference to FIG. 8, it will benoted that the holder 59 may be rotatively adjusted about its own'axialline to properly align the carton flap engaging portion of the plow byloosening the bolt 58, turning the holder 59 to the desired position andagain tightening the bolt 58.

Freely pivotally mounted on the same cross or pivot pin of the chain asthe pickup lug but at the outside of the chain, is the tucker 115 forthe side flap of the trailing side of the carton, said tucker beingformed of rigid plastic material and of modified dumbbell configurationin side elevation; the chain pin engaging the lobe 116 of said tuckerand the path of said tucker being disposed above the cam member 56.During the passage of the carton through zones I and II, this tucker ishanging downwardly in the clearance space 117 formed by cutting away thetop face of the cam 56, but as the pickup lug 100 engages the cam face188 on the cam 56 the lobe 118 of the tucker engages an upwardly andforwardly sloping cam face 119 on the cam member 56 causing the tuckerto be swung in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed from the righthand side of the machine and thus causing the lobe 120 thereof which isat the same end as the lobe 116, to swing across the adjacent end of thecarton and thus to enfold the side flap E at the trailing side of thecarton and to hold it in that position until it is secured by thecompletion of the carton enclosure by the end panel and tuck portionthereof in the manner to be presently described. The cam face 119terminates in a horizontal cam surface 121 on the cam member 56 onWhich'the tucker then rides holding the side flap at the trailing sideacross the end of the carton during the traverse of the carton throughzone IV, the opposite or leading side flap being continued to be heldcorrespondingly bent to closed position by the plow element 112.

Mounted on the outer face of the cam member 56 by means of a threadedstud 122 and disposed below the starting point of the cam face 119, is aholder 123 having a vertical bore therein in which the shank portion 124of the tuck plow 125 is secured by a set screw 126; said tuck plowcomprising a metal rod which extends (see FIGS. 3 and 5) in a run 127diagonally upwardly, outwardly and forwardly to the plane of the underside of the carton and thence continues in a run 128 extending parallelto said plane to a point slightly rearwardly of the termination of thecam face 121. The function of the tuck plow is to bend or break theouter end or tuck of the end panel F about the score line S therein.This is accomplished in cooperation with the tuck breaker. 129comprising a rod having a vertically disposed end 130 secured in aholder 131, said holder having a horizontal cylindrical shank 132secured for lateral horizontal and rot-ative adjustment in a bracket 133by a thumb screw 134. The bracket 133 is mounted on the frame sidemember in a vertical transversely extending plane at about the rear endof the run 128 of the tuck plow. From the lower end of the verticalportion 130, the tuck breaker thence extends laterally inwardly in a run135 to a longitudinal vertical plane just inwardly of the line of travelof the score line S on the carton end panel; thence down- I w-ardly in arun 136 to the horizontal plane of the upper surface of the extendedclosing fiap and thence in a run 13'] toward the front of the machineparallel to said last named planes. It will be noted in FIG. 5 that therun 128 of the tuck plow is below and parallel to the rearportion of therun 137 of the tuck breaker and it will be noted in FIG. that the tuckplow is just Outside of the score line S of the end panel F while thetuck breaker run 137 is just inside of the score line. As the cartonadvanced by the chains, the leading edge of the extended end panelengages the vertically spaced tuck plow and tuck breaker at about themid-point of zone III and continues through these elements until itencounters the short upwardly and forwardly inclined run 138 of the tuckplow which causes the distal or tuck end of the panel to bend or breakat the score line S thereof as the panel traverses this inclined run,this bending action being best shown in FIG. 15. Thus, by the time thecarton has traversed zone IV, the tuck portion of the end panel Willhave been broken preparatory to inserting it into the end of the carton.The tuck plow continues horizontally forwardly from the forward end ofthe run 138 in a run 139 which extends through zone V and terminates atabout the beginning of zone VI. At the forward end of zone III, the camsurface 109 terminates in an abrupt end defined by a vertical wall edge140 of the cam member 55 providing clearance space 140 for the side flaptucker 115. As this side flap tucker moves forwardly away from the planeof the cam wall edge 140, it may be held in its flap infolding positionby the frictional engagement of the flap against the lobe 118 thereof.To insure the disengagement of this tucker from the side flap as the endpanel is about to be folded over the side flap, the tucker is providedwith a lobe 141 which presents a forwardly facing diagonally downwardlyextending edge surface 142 and which encounters the transverse rear edge143 of the top guide plate 144 and is positively disengaged from thecarton whereupon it drops into the clearance space 140 which extendsfrom the said wall edge 140 to the forward end of the machine. The guideplate 144 overlies the portion of the path of travel of the carton endin which the end panel is manipulated through a portion of zone IV, aswell as zones V and VI. This guide plate at its rearward end includes anupwardly and rearwardly inclined tongue portion 145 extending rearwardlyfrom the inner side of the edge 143 thereof which is adapted to insurethe proper position of the cartons on the chain by holding or pushingdown any cartons which may not have been seated on the chains incidentto the initial opening motion by the stop member 105 and the pickup lug100. The plate 144 is mounted at its outer edge on the top face of ahorizontal bar 146 which at its outer face carries two outwardlyextending horizontal rods 147, 147 which are slidingly received in boresin brackets 148, 148 and secured in adjusted position therein by thumbscrews 149, 149. The brackets 148 are vertically adjustably secured byscrews 150 extending through vertical slots 151 in the frame sidemembers and 21. This vertical and lateral adjustment of the top plateand parts carried thereby permits the adaptation of the top plate todifferent sizes of cartons.

The end panel, after the end thereof has been broken by the tuck plowand tuck breaker, is folded upwardly about the score line S at thejunction of the panel with the carton body with the tuck end thereofbeing tucked in against the inner face of the upper side of the carbon.The means for this folding action comprises a pair of end closing plates152, 152 disposed substantially centrally of the carton end, each platebeing mounted on a pivot pin 153 carried by and extending between twoadjacent chain hinge pins at the outer face of the chain whereby the endclosing plates are mounted for swinging movement about an axis parallelto the chain link through which the said pair of hinge pins extends. Bymeans presently to be described, these end closing plates are positionedso as to hang downwardly from the upper run of the chain.

The cam member 56 at a point rearwardly of the clearance 140 carries ahorizontal threaded stud 154 on which is mounted a cylindrical holder154 having a diagonally rearwardly and downwardly extending boretherethrough in which the shank end 155 of the end closing plate plow 19156 is secured by a set screw 157. The holder also secures a second setscrew 158 operable to engage the side of the cam plate to prevent theholder from turning from its adjusted position about the axis of thestud 154.

As best shown in FIG. 15, the advancing plates 152 engage the camsurfaces 121 and are swung outwardly to slightly less than a horizontalposition. The shank portion of the end closure plate plow at theengagement by the holder 154 is sufficiently close to the cam plate 56so that the bevelled leading edges 159 of the plates 152, as positionedby the cam surface 121, will engage the upwardly and forwardlydiagonally extending shank and, as the plates are moved therealong bythe chain, the plates will be swung on their pivots 153 in a clockwisedirection as viewed in FIG. 15, the said shank portion in addition toits upward and forward diagonal direction also being inclined slightlyoutwardly to engage the backs of the plates 152 nearer to their outer orfree ends. The shank portion .155 of the plow 156 extends into ahorizontal run 160 disposed parallel to the cam plate 56 and at a levelat which the end closure plates riding thereon are disposed at an anglesomewhat less than horizontal and consequently out of engagement withthe underside of the then horizontal extending end panel while the tuckend of said panel is being broken by the tuck plow and tuck breaker,whereby the plates are positioned for quick engagement with the endpanel as soon as the end thereof is thus broken. A short distance afterthe leading side of the carton has moved beyond the distant end 13 9 ofthe tuck plow and enters zone VI, the leading end closing plate 152encounters the upwardly forwardly and inwardly diagonally extendingdistal end 161 of the plow 156 and is moved from the position occupiedwhile traversing the run 160 into engagement with the end panel andthence into vertical position moving the panel flap into :closedposition over the side flaps E with the tuck end thereof tucked underthe upper side Wall of the carton, said action of the leading endclosing plate being followed by corresponding action of the trailing endclosing plate as it traverses the said run 161. In this connection itmay be mentioned that the pair of end closing plates 152 is thusemployed because of the length of the illustrated carton parallel to thechains. In the case of a very short carton it is possible that :only asingle end closing plate would be required, while for cartons of stillgreater length in this dimension three or more of such plates might bedesirable.

The lower face of the bar 146 carries a tuck guide 162 comprising ametal plate extending parallel to the path of travel of the cart-on andhaving a curved under face 163 generated about the path of movement ofthe end panel after it has been broken as it is moved by the end closingplates; said lower face of said plate terminating adjacent to the edgeof the inner face of the upper side of the carton whereby the tuck endof the end panel is accurately inserted into the cart-on end by theaction of the end .olosing plates already described. In zone VI at aboutthe time the leading one of the end closing plates engages the run 16 1,the carton stop reaches the terminal end of the cam surface 109' and isallowed to drop' into the clearance 164 formed by the termination ofsaid cam surface 109, the pickup lugs 10% serving to continue to engageand move the carton forward until they too reach the end of the camsurface 109 and begin to drop away from the carton which is nowfirictionally gripped by the end closing plates tuitil it is dischargedfrom the machine and onto the receiving plate 165 which is mounted onthe front end of the machine below the plane of the lower side of thecartons and between the chains. The successive cartons being deliveredby the chains push each other off of the plate 165 into whateverreceiving means may have been provided.

Thus it will be appreciated that except for the end folding of theleading side flaps and the breaking of the tuck portion of the endpanel, all of the carton end manipulating instrumentalities as well asthe means for setting up or opening the carton from its collapsedposition move with the chains on which the carton is carried wherebyfrictional engagement and relative movement between the carton andstationary instrumentalities with the attendant possibility of tearingor *deleteriously marking the cartons is eliminated. In this connection,it will be noted that the only portions of the cartons which are thusfrictionally contacted during the operation of the machine are thosewhich incident to closing the end of the carton by the machine areconcealed by other potrions of the carton. Thus, even if the frictionalengagement did make a mark on the engaged surface of the carton, thatportion is out of sight when the carton is set up.

FIGS. 20 and 21 show the modification of the machine where only one endof a carton is to be closed incident to setting up the cart-on as forexample the type of carton shown in FIG. 19. The carton end infoldingmeans is dispensed with at the side of the carton which is to remainopen. In FIG. 20 this is shown as being at the left hand side of themachine but it will be appreciated that it could be the right and sideinstead. In this modification all of the carton flap manipulatingdevices are removed including those carried by the cam plate. The camplate 56 is replaced by a cam plate 56' having an upwardly and forwardlysloping cam edge 166 at about the same location as the cam 119 of thecam plate 56 which it replaces. The cam plate 56' then continues in ahorizontal cam surface 167 that extends substantially to a point belowthe point of disengagement of the end closing plates with the forward ordistal end of the end closing plate plow 156 or, in other words, at theend of zone VI.

In place of the end flap tucker and end closing plates carried by thechain, the chain carries back stop members 168 which are mounted forsliding vertical movement on adjacent pairs of chain hinge pins as bestshown in FIG. 21. These back stop members are moved up across the endface of the opened up carton by engagement with the sloping cam surface166 and maintains engagement with the end of the carton until theinfolding of the flaps and closing of the opposite end is achieved, thefinal closing being accomplished by the final engagement of the endclosing plates with the end closing plate plow at the other side of themachine. When this is accomplished, the back stop members 168 areallowed to drop back into a position in which their upper edges aresubstantially at the outer or top level of the chain. While the backstop members 168 are here shown as a pair, if cartons of lesser widthwere involved, it is possible that only a single back stop member mightbe required and it will also be appreciatedthat if the carton were widerthan that illustrated one or more additional backstop members might berequired to properly oppose the closing forces exerted by the endclosing plates and other means operating on the end of the car-ton to beclosed. 7

There remains to be described the repositioning of certain of theelements carried by the chain in preparation for engagement with acarton. The first of these elements to be re-positioned is the side flaptucker 115 which'as above described has been allowed to drop down belowthe chain to clear the flap engaging lobe thereof from the end of thecarton. As the chain traverses the sprocket by which it is actuated, thelobe 118 thereof engages a retainer element 169 carried by the underedge of the cam plate 56 at the forward end thereof (see FIG. 6) and asthe chain goes around the sprocket, this engagement with the retainer169 causes the tucker element 115 to be swung outwardly so that itreturns to its course around the chain in a depending position from thelower run of the chain. Since it is freely hung from the chain pin, asit returns around the rounded end of the supporting plate at the rear ofthe machine it swings back into depending position from the top run ofthe plane of the chain until it engages the engaging function.

It is necessary to manipulate the end closing plates 152 along the lowerrun of the chain so that they extend upwardly from the lower run sothat, as they make their excursion around the rear end of the chainsupporting plate, they maintain this position and are returned to theupper run of the chain in a depending position. As these end plates goaround the sprocket at the front end of the machine they swing outwardlyand hang from the lower run of the chain in a depending position untilthey en counter the forward end of the rod 17 0 constituting the endplate inverting means, said rod extending upwardly and rearwardly and,as shown in FIG. 5, being mounted on the side plate 42. The thusinverted end closing plates are received by a retainer plate 171depending from the lower edge of the outer magazine supporting plate camface 119 for its next flap and are retained pointing inwardly from thechain and,

as the chain passes around the rounded end of the supporting plate 42,they are further retained in this position by the bristles 172 of abrush 173 carried by a bracket 174 fixed to the rear end 10 of themachine casing. By this means, the end closing plates are returned tothe upper run of the chain in a position depending therefrom for theireventual engagement with the end closing plate plow 156.

While in the foregoing specification there has been described apresently preferred embodiment of the invention including certainspecifically described modifications, it will be appreciated that suchdisclosure has been by way of example and that other modifications maycome within the scope of the invention. For example, while the doubleend closing means are shown operating simultaneously on the oppositeends of the carton, it is possible that in some forms of the inventionthe means for closing one end of the carton may be that alreadydescribed and that similar means can be employed for closing the otherend of the carton after the carton has been filled and is passing alongthe same length of chain by means operating after the first end has been.thus closed. Regardless of how the end closing means and carton set upmeans may be arranged, the invention here sought to be protected isprimarily that of the means for manipulating the carton ends and forsetting up the carton which, as above described, are for the most partmoving with the carton as it traverses the zones of operation thereofthrough the machine. Accordingly, the invention is not to be deemed tobe limited to the exact details of construction thus disclosed by way ofexample and it will be understood that the invention includes as wellall such changes and modifications in the parts, and in theconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts as shall come withinthe purview of the appended claims.

We claim:

' 1. A machine for setting up knocked down cartons of the type having atleast one end thereof closed by an end panel formed as an extension ofone side of the carton and folded across the end of the set up carton;said machine comprising in combination, a frame structure, devicesincluding carton engaging means movable on said frame structure in apath extending from a carton engaging point to a carton dischargingpoint and operative to engage a knocked down carton at said cartonengaging point and propel it along said path to said carton dischargingpoint, other devices including other carton engaging means movable alongsaid path in synchronism with said first named carton engaging means andcooperating therewith to transform the engaged carton from the knockeddown condition into the erected, set up condition while traversing saidpath, end panel manipulating means including at least one end panelengaging member movable along said path in synchronism with said cartonengaging means, and devices engaged by said end panel enversing saidpath, end

13 gaging member incident to its traverse of said path and operative,after the carton has been set up by said carton engaging means, toeffect an additional movement by said member with resultant folding ofthe end panel engaged thereby across the carton end.

2. A machine for setting up knocked down cartons of the type having atleast one end thereof closed by an end panel formed as an extension ofone side of the carton and folded across the end of the set up carton;said machine comprising in combination, a frame structure, a magazinefor holding a stack of knocked down cartons mounted on said framestructure, devices including carton engaging means movable on saidstructure in a path extending from a carton engaging point beneath saidmagazine to a carton discharging point and operative to engage thelowermost carton in the stack in said magazine and propel it along saidpath to said carton discharging point, other devices including othercarton engaging means movable along said path in synchronism with saidfirst named carton engaging means and cooperating therewith to transformthe engaged carton from the knocked down condition into the erected, setup condition While trapanel manipulating means including at least oneend panel engaging member movable along said path in synchronism withsaid carton engaging means, and devices engaged by said end panelengaging member incident to its traverse of said path and operative,after the carton has been set up by said carton engaging means, toeffect an additional movement by said member with resultant folding ofthe end panel engaged thereby across the carton end.

3. A machine for setting up knocked down cartons of the type having atleast one end thereof closed by an end panel formed as an extension ofone side of the carton and folded across the end of the set up canton;said machine comprising in combination, a frame structure, devicesincluding carton engaging means movable on said frame structure in apath extending from a carton engaging point to a carton dischargingpoint and operative to engage a knocked down carton at said cartonengaging point and propel it along said path to said carton dischargingpoint, other devices including other carton engaging means movable alongsaid path in synchronism with said first named carton engaging means andcooperating therewith to transform the engaged carton from the knockeddown condition into the erected, set up condition while traversing saidpath, end panel manipulating means including at least one end panelengaging member movable along said path in synchronism with said cartonengaging means and operative after the car-ton has been set up by saidcarton engaging means, to fold the end panel engaged thereby across thecarton end, and stop means movable along said path in synchronism withsaid end panel engaging member and engaging the opposite end of thecarton to resist the endwise thrust on the carton incident to thefolding of the end panel against the carton end by said end panelmanipulating means.

4. A machine for setting up knocked down cartons of the type having bothends thereof closed by end panels formed as oppositely extendingportions of one of the sides of the carton and folded across the ends ofthe set up carton; said machine comprising in combination, a framestructure, devices including carton engaging means movable on said framestructure in a path ex tending from a carton engaging point to a cartondischarging point and operative to engage a knocked down carton at saidcarton engaging point and propel it along said path, other devicesincluding other carton engaging means movable along said path insynchronism with said first named carton engaging means and cooperatingtherewith to transform the carton from the knocked down condition to theerected, set up condition while traversing said path, and end panelengaging devices including at least one end panel engaging member en- 14gageable with each end panel of the canton and movable along said pathin synchronism with said carton engaging means and operative, after thecarton has been set up, to fold both end panels across the respectivecarton ends.

5. A machine for setting up knocked down cartons of the type having bothends thereof closed by end panels formed as oppositely extendingportions of one of the sides of the carton and folded across the cartonends; said machine including in combination, a frame structure, amagazine for holding a stack of knocked down cartons mounted on saidframe structure, devices including carton engaging means movable on saidframe structure in a path extending from a carton engaging point beneathsaid magazine to a carton discharging point and operative to engage thelowermost carton in the stack in said magazine and propel it along saidpath, other devices including other carton engaging means movable alongsaid path in synchronisrn with said first named carton engaging meansand cooperating therewith to transform the carton from the knocked downcondition to the erected, set up condition while traversing said path,and end panel engaging devices each including at least one end panelengaging member; each of said end panel engaging devices engaging oneeach of the end panels of the canton and movable along said path insynchronism with said carton engaging means and being operative, afterthe carton has been set up, to fold both end panels across therespective carton ends.

6. A machine for setting up knocked down cartons of the type having atleast one end thereof closed by an end panel for-med as an extension ofone side of the carton and folded across the end of the set up carton;said machine comprising in combination, a frame structure, devicesincluding canton engaging means movable on said frame structure in apath extending from a carton engaging point to a carton dischargingpoint and operative to engage a knocked down carton at said cartonengaging point and propel it along said path to said carton dischargingpoint, other devices including other carton engaging means movable alongsaid path in synchronism with said first named carton engaging means,stationary cam means on said frame structure positioned for engagementby both of said carton engaging devices incident to movement thereofalong said path and operative by engagement with said devices to causesaid devices to transform the engaged carton from the knocked downcondition into the erected, set up condition while traversing said pathand to continue to hold the carton in the said set up condition until itis discharged from the machine, end panel manipulating means includingat least one end panel engaging member movable along said path insynchronism with said carton engaging means, and devices operative afterthe carton has been set up by said car-ton engaging means, to actuatesaid end panel engaging means to fold the end panel engaged therebyacross the carton end.

7. A machine for setting up knocked down cartons of the type having bothends thereof closed by end panels formed as oppositely extendingportions of one of the sides of the carton and folded across the ends ofthe set up carton; said machine comprising in com bination, a framestructure, devices including carton engaging means movable on said framestructure in a path extending from a carton engaging point to a cartondischarging point and operative to engage a knocked down carton at saidcarton engaging point and propel it along said path, other devicesincluding other carton engaging means movable along said path insynchronism with said first named carton engaging means, stationary cammeans on said frame structure positioned for engagement by both of saidcarton engaging devices incident to movement thereof along said path andoperative by engagement with said devices to cause said devicestotransform the carton from the knocked down condition to and operativethe erected, set up condition while traversing said path, and end panelengaging devices each including at least one end panel engaging memberengageable with the respective end panel of the carton and movable alongsaid path in sychronism with said carton engaging means and operative,after the carton has been set up, to fold both end panels across therespective carton ends.

8. A machine for setting up knocked down cartons of the type having atleast one end thereof closed by an end panel formed as an extension ofone side of the carton and folded across the end of the set up carton;said machine comprising in combination, a frame structure, devicesincluding carton engaging mean-s movable on said frame structure in apath extending from a carton engaging point to a carton dischargingpoint and operatve to engage a knocked down carton at said cartonengaging point and propel it along said path to said carton dischargingpoint, other devices including other carton engaging means movable alongsaid path in synchronism with said first named carton engaging means andcooperating therewith to transform the eugaged carton from the knockeddown condition into the erected, set up condition while traversing saidpath and to continue to hold the canton in the said set up conditionuntil it is discharged from the machine, and panel manipulating meansincluding at least one end panel engaging member movable along said pathin synchrouism with said carton engaging means, and devices operativeafter the carton has been set up by said carton engaging means, toactuate said end panel engaging means to fold the end panel engagedthereby across the carton end, and manually operable means forming apart of said frame structure for varying the width of said framestructure to accommodate different lengths of car-tons.

9. A machine for setting up knocked down cartons of the type having atleast one end thereof closed by an end panel formed as an extension ofone side of the carton and folded across the end of the set up carton;said machine comprising in combination, a frame structure, a magazinefor holding a stack of knocked down cartons mounted on said framestructure, devices including canton engaging means movable on saidstructure in a path extending from a carton engaging point beneath saidmagazine to a carton discharging point and operative to engage thelowermost carton in the stack in said magazine and propel it along saidpath to said carton discharging point, other devices including othercarton engaging means movable along said path in synchronism with saidfirst named carton engaging means and cooperating therewith both totransform the engaged carton from the knocked down condition into theerected, set up condition while traversing said path and to continue tohold the carton in the said set up condition until it is discharged fromthe machine, and manually operable means forming a part of said framestructure for varying the width of said frame structure to accommodatedifferent lengths of cartons.

10. A machine for setting up knocked down cartons of the type having atleast one end thereof closed by an end panel formed as an extension ofone side of the carton and folded across the carton end; said machinecomprising in combination, a frame structure, unidirectionally movingdevices carried by said frame structure for transporting a carton oversaid frame structure along a path extending from a carton engaging pointto a carton discharging point including a pair of endless chainsextending generally horizontally in laterally spaced relation to eachother and driven in synchronism with each other by a pair of sprocketscarried by a driving shaft and with the top runs of said chains beingdisposed in said path, a first carton engaging means comprising a pairof pickup lug members mounted one each on each of said chains anddisposed laterally opposite each other to engage a carton at spacedpoints and propel it along said path, other carton engaging devicesincluding a pair of carton stop members mounted one each on each of saidchains and disposed in front of said pickup lugs, said stop members andsaid pickuplugs operating incident to the transport of a carton therebyboth to transform it from its knocked down condition to its erected, setup condition and to continue to hold the carton in said set up conditionuntil it is discharged from the machine, and end panel manipulatingmeans including at least one end panel engaging member movable alongsaid path in synchronism means and operative after the carton has beenset up by said carton engaging means, to fold the end panel engagedthereby across the carton end.

11. A machine for setting up cartons as claimed in claim 10 includingmanually operable means for varying the distance between said chains toaccommodate dilferent sizes of cartons.

12. A machine for setting up cartons as claimed in claim 10 in whichsaid top runs of said chains are supported by the upper edges of framemembers lougitudi nally coextensive with said runs and in whichstationary cam members mounted on said frame members actuate said pickuplugs and said stop members to effect setting up of a carton engaged bysaid pickup lugs and stop members and thereafter holding the carton insaid set up condition.

13. In a machine for setting up knocked down cartons of the type havingat least one end closed by a pair of side flaps overlain by an end panelformed as an. extension of a side panel of the carton and having adistal end adapted to be tucked within the side panel opposite the panelfrom which the end panel extends; said machine comprising a framestructure, devices including carton engaging means movable on said framestructure in a path extending from a carton engaging point to a cartondischarging point and operative to engage a knocked down carton at saidcarton engaging point and propel it along said path to said cartondischarging point, other devices including other carton engaging meansmovable along said path in synchronism with said first named cartonengaging means and cooperating therewith both to transform the cartonfrom its knocked down form into the erected, set up condition whiletraversing said path and thereafter to hold the carton in the said setup condition until it is discharged from the machine, a statiouary plowmeans for infolding the side flap at the leading side of the carton, aside iiap tucking means for intucking the side flap at the trailing sideof the carton mounted for movement along said path with the carton, endpanel manipulating means including stationary means for breaking thetuck end of the end panel, end panel engaging means mounted for movementalong said path with the carton, stationary plow end panel engagingmeans operative to cause said end panel engaging means to bend the endpanel across the carton end overlying the side flaps, and guide meansfor the end panel tuck end positioned to cause said end to be insertedunder the side panel of the carton opposite the side from which the endpanel extends.

14. A machine for setting up cartons as claimedin claim 13 in which saidframe structure includes stationary cam means engaged by said devicesfor setting up the carton and said trailing side flap tucking meansincident to movement thereof along said path effectivetoimpart'operative movements to the said devices and side flap tuckingmeans engaging said cam means.

15. A machine for setting up cartons as claimed in claim 13 in whichsaid frame structure includes a pair of laterally spaced frame members,and in which said carton transporting means comprises a pair of chainsdisposed in side by side parallel relation to each other and engaging apair of sprockets mounted on a driving shaft, the upper runs of saidchains riding on the upper edges of said frame members, and in whichsaid carton eng g g devices, said trailing side flap tucker and said endwith said carton engaging 7 means engaging said panel engaging means arehingedly mounted on said chains for independent hinging movement whilebeing moved therewith along said path.

16. A machine for setting up cartons as claimed in claim in which saidframe structure includes rotatable, exteriorly threaded cross membersthreadedly engaging said frame members adjacent each end thereof, andmanual means for simultaneously rotating said cross members withresultant adjustment of said frame members toward and away from eachother to accommodate different sizes of cartons.

17. A machine for setting up cartons as claimed in claim 15 in whicheach of said chains is similarly equipped for closure of both ends of acarton while traversing said path.

18. A machine for setting up knocked down cartons of the type having atleast one end thereof closed by an end panel and including a tuck endformed as an extension of one side of the carton and folded across theend of the set up carton; said machine comprising in combination, aframe structure, devices including carton engaging means movable on saidframe structure in a path extending from a carton engaging point to acarton discharging point and operative to engage a knocked down cartonat said carton engaging point and propel it along said path to saidcarton discharging point, other devices including other carton engagingmeans movable along said path in synchronism with said first namedcar-ton engaging means and cooperating therewith to transform theengaged carton from the knocked down condition into the erected, set upcondition while traversing said path and thereafter to hold the cartonin the said set up condition until it is discharged from the machine,and end panel manipulating means including at least one end panelengaging member movable along said path in synchronism With said cartonengaging means and operative after the carton has been set up by saidcarton engaging means, to fold the end panel engaged thereby across thecarton end and insert the tuck end thereof beneath the opposite sidepanel of the carton.

19. A machine for setting up knocked down cartons of the type having atleast one end thereof closed by an end panel and including a tuck endformed as an extension of one side of the carton and folded across theend of the set up carton; said machine comprising in combination, aframe structure, devices including carton engaging means movable on saidframe structure in a path extending from a car-ton engaging point to acarton discharging point and operative to engage a knocked down cartonat said carton engaging point and propel it along said path to saidcarton discharging point, other devices including other carton engagingmeans movable along said path in synchronism with said first namedcarton engaging eans and cooperating therewith to transform the engagedcmton from the knocked down condition into the erected, set up conditionwhile tranversing said path, end panel manipulating means including atleast one end panel engaging member movable along said path insynchronism with said carton engaging means and operative after thecarton has been set up by said carton engaging means, to fold the endpanel engaged thereby across the carton end, and stop means movablealong said path in synchronism With said end panel engaging member andengaging the opposite end of the carton to resist the endwise thrust onthe carton incident to the folding of the end panel against the cartonend and insert the tuck end thereof beneath the opposite side panel ofthe carton.

20. A machine for setting up and subsequently closing at least one endof knocked down cartons of the type having at least one end thereofclosed by an integrally formed end panel means folded across the end ofthe set up carton; said machine comprising in combination, a framestructure, devices including firstycarton engaging means movable on saidframe structure in a path extending from a carton engaging point to acarton discharging point and operative to engage a knocked down cartonat path and operative by engagement with said means to cause said firstand opposing carton engaging means to transform the engaged carton fromthe' knocked down condition into the erected, set up condition whiletraversing said path and to continue to hold the carton in said set upcondition until it is discharged from the machine at said cartondischarge point.

21. A machine for setting up and subsequently closing at least one endof knocked down cartons of the type having at least one end thereofclosed by an integrally formed end panel means folded across the end ofthe set up carton; said machine comprising in combination, a framestructure, devices including first carton engaging means movable on saidframe structure in a path extending from a carton engaging point to acarton discharging point and operative to engage a knocked down cartonat said engaging point and propel it along said path to said cartondischarging point, other devices including opposing carton engagingmeans movable along said path in synchronism with said first namedcarton engaging means, stationary cam means on said frame structurepositioned for engagement by said first and opposing carton engagingmeans incident to movement thereof along said path and operative byengagement with said means to cause said first and opposing cartonengaging means to transform the engaged carton from the knocked downcondition into the erected, set up condition while traversing said pathand to continue to hold the carton in said set up condition until it isdischarged from the machine at said carton discharge point, and devicesoperating on the set up carton as it is held and moved by said first andopposing carton engaging means effective to manipulate the end panelmeans to close the carton end.

22. A machine for setting up and closing knocked down cartons of thetype having both ends thereof closed by integrally formed end panelmeans folded across the respective ends of the carton; said machinecomprising in combination a frame structure, devices including firstcarton engaging means movable on said frame structure in a pathextending from a carton engaging point to a carton discharging point andoperative to engage a knocked down carton at said carton engaging pointand propel it along said path, other devices including opposing cartonengaging means movable along said path in synchronism with said firstcarton engaging means, and stationary cam means on said frame structurepositioned for engagement by both said carton engaing means and saidopposing means incident to movement thereof along said path andoperative by engagement with said first carton engaging means and saidopposing means to cause said first and opposing carton engaging means totransform the carton from the knocked down condition to the erected, setup condition 'while traversing said path and to continue to hold thecarton in the said set up condition unit it is discharged from themachine at said carton discharge point.

23. A machine for setting up and subsequently closing at least one endof knocked down cartons of the type having at least one end thereofclosed by an integrally formed end panel means folded across the end ofthe set up carton; said machine comprising in combination, a framestructure, devices including first carton engaging means movable on saidframe structure in a path extending from a carton engaging point to acarton discharging point and operative to engage a knocked down cartonat said engaging point and propel it along said path to said cartondischarging point, other devices including opposing carton 19 engagingmeans movable along said path in synchronism with said first namedcarton engaging means, stationary cam means on said frame structurepositioned for engagement by said first and opposing carton engagingmeans incident to movement thereof along said path and operative byengagement with said means to cause said first and opposing cartonengaging means to transform the engaged carton from the knocked downcondition into the erected, set up condition while traversing said pathand to continue to hold the carton in said set up condition until it isdischarged from the machine at said canton discharge point, and separatedevices operating on the set up carton as it is held and moved alongsaid path r t 20 V by said first and opposing engaging means efiectiveto separately manipulate said end panel means to close both ends of thecarton.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,125,430 Die-tman Aug. 2, 1938 2,429,536 Von Sydow Oct. 21, 19472,660,012 Boyce et a1 Nov. 24, 1953 2,935,918 Goss May 10, 19603,030,869 Galloway Apr. 24, 1962 3,058,271 McGihon Oct. 16, 1962

1. A MACHINE FOR SETTING UP KNOCKED DOWN CARTONS OF THE TYPE HAVING ATLEAST ONE END THEREOF CLOSED BY AN END PANEL FORMED AS AN EXTENSION OFONE SIDE OF THE CARTON AND FOLDED ACROSS THE END OF THE SET UP CARTON;SAID MACHINE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, A FRAME STRUCTURE, DEVICESINCLUDING CARTON ENGAGING MEANS MOVABLE ON SAID FRAME STRUCTURE IN APATH EXTENDING FROM A CARTON ENGAGING POINT TO A CARTON DISCHARGINGPOINT AND OPERATIVE TO ENGAGE A KNOCKED DOWN CARTON AT SAID CARTONENGAGING POINT AND PROPEL IT ALONG SAID PATH TO SAID CARTON DISCHARGINGPOINT, OTHER DEVICES INCLUDING OTHER CATRON ENGAGING MEANS MOVBLE ALONGSAID PATH IN SYNCHRONISM WITH SAID FIRST NAMED CARTON ENGAGING MEANS ANDCOOPERATING THEREWITH TO TRANSFORM THE ENGAGED CARTON FROM THE KNOCKEDDOWN CONDITION INTO THE ERECTED, SET UP CONDITION WHILE TRAVERSING SAIDPATH, END PANEL MANIPULATING MEANS INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE END PANELENGAGING MEMBER MOVABLE ALONG SAID PATH IN SYNCHRONISM WITH SAID CARTONENGAGING MEANS, AND DEVICES ENGAGED BY SAID END PANEL ENGAGING MEANSINCIDENT TO ITS TRAVERSE OF SAID PATH AND OPERATIVE, AFTER THE CARTONHAS BEEN SET UP BY SAID CARTON ENGAGING MEANS, TO EFFECT AN ADDITIONALMOVEMENT BY SAID MEMBER WITH RESULTANT FOLDING OF THE END PANEL ENGAGEDTHEREBY ACROSS THE CARTON END.